When you come to Ottawa to put your best foot forward, you might want to come armed with some solid knowledge about the nation’s capital.

Hudak met with the Sun’s editorial board on Friday, but apparently forgot to get briefed on some of the key local issues.

Editorial boards can be like gifts to politicians; if you’ve got something to say, there’s an audience waiting to hear form you.

But Hudak didn’t appear to arrive with anything in his back pocket that would help Ottawa specifically.

Take the Rideau Carleton Raceway.

Casinos and where they should be located has become a hot topic in Ottawa.

Hudak acknowledged that, but while he knew the concerns here, he didn’t have any solid answers about what his party would do if it wins the next provincial election.

With the Liberals hell-bent on their modernization plan, which threatens the future of the slots program and the racetrack at Rideau Carleton, the door was wide open for Hudak to seize the issue — and look like a hero.

Too bad he didn’t appear willing or able to do that.

Certainly, Hudak’s lieutenant in this region, Nepean-Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod has been effectively beating the drum on this one — arguing for the preservation of the Rideau Carleton Raceway.

Hudak, not so much.

Would Hudak be interested in open up the city to casinos and let the free market decide?

If Ottawa could support three or four casinos, would Hudak be in favour of that?

Should the market get to decide?

What about a downtown casino along with keeping the Rideau Carleton Raceway?

About what about the fact that the province essentially provides a subsidy to the horse racing industry? How does the Tory justify that?

The answers were few and far between — and sometimes evasive.

(Hudak never said whether he agreed or disagreed the money given to the racetracks was actually a subsidy.)

Instead of offering up some sort of solid casino policy — Hudak instead began hammering away what the Liberals are doing.

Interesting, since Hudak began the editorial board by telling the Sun that this time around — he’s not going to act like the leader of the opposition — simply criticizing the Liberals.

Instead, he said, he was going to tell the people of Ontario where he stands — and not what he stands against.

Apparently, that doesn’t stand true for casinos.

Hudak says the Liberals are using the Vegas-style casinos across the province as an “economic generator.”

“So I reject that approach out of the gate. We’ve got big problems in Ontario, so to think the solution is that we’re going to be building casinos or wind turbines as a solution is a tremendous distraction .”

Here’s what Hudak did offer up.

“If you want to offer more gaming options at casinos, you want to put tables in, why wouldn’t you put them at existing racetrack slots? Why wouldn’t you simply add them to the existing infrastructure as opposed to bulldozing what you have?” Hudak asked.

Good question, but what’s the Tory solution?

Hudak reiterated his party’s stance — that a new casino can’t go into a municipality without first holding a referendum.

But then he pointed out he had no idea whether Ottawa actually ever held a referendum on this issue.

Uh, no, it didn’t. And frankly, there was no need for you to point out your ignorance.

He also had no idea whether the city could put on a referendum question in the next provincial election — based solely on Ottawa’s interest in a casino.

Answer: No, it can’t.

Unfortunately, Hudak is still relying on several pat phrases to answers he’s given.

One more thing. Ottawa West-Nepean candidate Randall Denley likely wouldn’t appreciate being called a “re-offer candidate” — especially form a party leader wearing the same shoes!

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Former Ottawa mayor and NCC board member
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Former Ottawa mayor and NCC board member Jackie Holzman has lashed out at Mayor Jim Watson, questioning why he didn't intervene earlier on the recommendation of Tunney's Pasture as the preferred site for a new Civic hospital.